• Students across the mid-state participated in a nationwide walk-out to demand action on gun violence in the wake of the attack in Parkland, Florida. The Nashville Scene collected photos from around the city.
• Forbes magazine has named Nashville (well, more accurately the Nashville statistical area, which includes Franklin and Murfreesboro) the nation’s seventh-fastest growing city. The city had been 20th on the previous year’s list.
• A judge has ruled that the next mayoral election will be August 2, not in May as two plaintiffs had sought in order to have a better shot at running a shorter, lower cost campaign. Mayor David Briley, who took over after Megan Barry resigned last week, has said he will be running to keep the job.
• We are a bit confused why you would need a four story furniture store, much less one with a swanky restaurant, but here we are. They are aiming to open later this spring.
• The number of children living in poverty in Nashville has dropped to 22 percent, down from nearly a third a year ago according to a report. Officials are concerned that the good news may simply mask that those children have moved out to the ring counties.
• There may be relief in store for the city’s pothole problems now that a local asphalt plant has reopened now that the winter weather is over. The crew’s temporary patches were easily deteriorating in the wet wintry weather.
• Mayor Briley announced Tuesday that the city would be demolishing Greer Stadium and returning the area to park land at Fort Negley with a proper acknowledgement of its historical relevance, pending council approval. The parcel had once been targeted for a large mixed-use development before an archeological survey indicated a high likelihood of graves scattered around the property.
• The mayor also announced his full support for maintaining Metro General as the city’s public safety net hospital, effectively ending a plan by his predecessor to convert it to an outpatient clinic that had been put on hold after public outcry. The city spends roughly $50 million a year in subsidies for the facility, a cost that officials say must be reduced.
• Metro Nashville Police say that 81 percent of the 43 cars stolen in the city last week had the keys readily available to the thief. Seriously, lock your car and take your keys with you.
• A Metro School Board member has requested an independent audit of the system’s budget, citing questions about the reasons for a $7.5 million shortfall. MNPS is currently under a spending freeze through July 1.
• The Nashville Predators (45-14-10) took advantage of a pair of shorthanded goals Tuesday night to beat the Winnipeg Jets (41-19-10) 1-3 at Bridgestone Arena. The Preds will host the Arizona Coyotes (23-35-11) tonight and the Colorado Avalanche (37-24-8) tomorrow night to close out the home-stand.
• Jay-Z and Beyonce will bring their OTR II tour to Nashville in August, playing at Vanderbilt Stadium. Tickets go on sale Monday and are probably the cost of your first born.
• Also in music news, Jack White has some “surprise” shows set at Third Man Records. Tickets are $11.
• Metro Animal Care and Control (the city’s pound) has announced the start of its “March Wagness” event (that’s clever) where they will waive adoption fees through Sunday because the shelter is at capacity. MACC is located at 5125 Harding Place in Nashville. ??

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